Decorative candleholder



Oct. 31, 1950 c. R. CURTIS DECORATIVE CANDLE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 10, 1949 [HZ/EIZZDP 7 6767 67206 R Uzzrzzlq by 74 7 y an;

Oct. 31, 1950 c. R. CURTIS DECORATIVE CANDLE HOLDER Filed March 10, 19492 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllllll Lllllllllllllllllv.

[Hz E17 far 676F606? JP. 6 157 5535 Patented Oct. 31, 1950 2,527,707DECORATIVE CANDLEHOLDER Clarence E. Curtis, Lombard, Ill., assignor toF. H. Smith Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Application March 10, 1949, Serial No. 80,718

The present invention relates to a decorative candle holder, and moreparticularly to a candle holding device including a candle holder forfirmly retaining a candle therein with the holder itself being adaptedfor attachment to different types of bases to provide varying decorativeeffects.

The employment of candles for decorative purposes is a custom whichdates back to antiquity, and the difliculties inherent in this use arewidely known and appreciated. Even in this machine age there is nostandard size of candle nor is there a standard candle holder now on themarket which is adapted to receive all of the varying types and sizes ofcandles now available. The difiiculties caused by this lack ofstandardization are numerous and irksome inasmuch as it necessitateseither the shaving of an oversized candle to fit within a given candleholder or the wrapping of paper or similar padding about an undersizedcandle so that it may be retained firmly within the same candle holder.Even these expedients are frequently of no avail since the candle holdersocket size and shape, as well as the candle size and shape, may varyover a wide range.

The present invention now provides an improved candle holder which isadapted to receive candles of varying sizes and tapers with a firm gripso that any one of the sizes and shapes of candles now generallyavailable on the market may be readily accommodated and mounted therein.Further, the candle holder of the present invention is provided withmeans for employ.- ing these varying sized candles in conjunction withvarious decorative bases or holders so that the overall decorativeeffect is susceptible of considerable variation.

The simple and inexpensive design of the candle holder of the presentinvention and the ready adaptability of the holder to various decorativeeffects will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and by those whodesire to employ candles for lighting or decoration. My candle holder isadapted for manufacture by inexpensive mass production methods, as bythe use of automatic screw machinery, and the low initial cost of myimproved candle holder, together with the efficient and simple operationthereof, now makes possible the employment of candles for decorative andutilitarian purposes without encountering the difi'lculties hereinbeforeexplained.

In general, the decorative device of the present invention includes acandle holder body portion having a recess adapted to receive one end,of a 3Claims. (CI. 67-43) own base.

candle and means for securing the body portion to a holder. The candlereceiving recess is preferably tapered and threaded to provide means forreceiving and retaining candles of various size and contour. The threadsof the recess are flat to avoid undue chipping or cutting of the candlestem received by the recess while still being capable of pressing intothe candle to firmly anchor the same therein. It is not necessary thatthe candle have exactly the same taper as the recess, nor is itnecessary that the candle extend completely within'the recess to besecured within the candle holder body portion. Sufiicient anchoringengagement of the candle within the holder is obtained when only oneturn of the candle holder thread engages the candle.

The various bases upon which the candle holder may be mounted maydesirably include a relatively flat cylindrical lower base, a removableupper base for securing to the lower first-mentioned base, and adeformable resilient band cap- .able of deflection from a straightconfiguration,

as into a circular contour. Suitable means are provided for securing thecandle holder body to the bases as by the use of a threaded stud or bythe use of slots formed in the candle holder body for receiving thedeformable band. Alternatively the body portion may be provided with alower surface for contacting a supporting member, such as a table, sothat the body portion provides its A modified form of the candle holderof the present invention is provided for insertion into thecandle-receiving recess of conventional decorative candle holders, madeof glass, metal or similar material, to provide a threaded recesscapable of receiving and firmly retaining therein awide variety ofcandles as hereinbefore explained. -The conventional candle holder thusserves as an additional type of base which may be v,employed inconjunction with the candle holder varied bases to provide a number ofdifferent decorative effects.

It is a further important object of the present invention to provide adecorative device comprising a candle holder body portion having athreaded recess for receiving and securing therein candles of varyingsizes and contours and a base for maintaining the handle holder body inupright position with the candle secured therein extending therebyond.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a candleholding means adapted for insertion in conventional recessed candleholders including a candle holder body portion having an interiorthreaded recess adapted to receive candles of various sizes and shapesand means carried by the body portion for engaging the conventionalcandle holder, so that the conventional candle holder serves as adecorative base.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following detailed description of theannexed sheet of drawings which, by way of preferred example only,illustrates one embodiment of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective, elevational view of a decorative candleholder of thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a broken vertical, cross-sectional view, with parts shown inelevation, of 'the candle holder of Figure 1, showing a candlepositioned therein;

Figure 3 is a vertical, cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2illustrating the body portion of a candle holder of the presentinvention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Fig- 'ure 1 illustrating theemployment of a diiferent base with the candle holder body portion ofFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a-perspectiveview similar to Figure 4 showing the candleholder body portion employed with a band-type base;

Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to Figure 5. illustrating thepositioning of the candle holder body portion in a different positionupon theband illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a bottom elevational view of the v band and candle holderof Figure .6;

Figure 8 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of a modified form of acandle holder of the present invention; and

Figure 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the modification ofFigure 8, illustrating the modified form of the present inventioninserted within a candle holder of conventional design which serves as abase.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1, reference numeral I0 refers generally to a candle holder ofthe present invention comprising a lower base portion I I, anintermediate base portion I2, and a body portion I3.

From Figure 2 it may be seen that the base portion I I is provided witha central cylindrical threaded aperture 14 for receiving a threaded studI 5, formed integrally with or secured to intermediate base portion I2,to secure the intermediate portion I2 t0 the base portion II. Theintermediate base portion I2 is provided with a plane circular upperface I6 provided with a central threaded recess I! of the same thread asrecess I4 of base II.

A stud I8 of cylindrical configuration and having threads 18acomplementary to those of recess -I'I is adapted to be threadedlyretained by the aperture IT. The threaded portion I8a of stud, I8 isadapted to be threadedly received by a threaded recess I9 formed in thatend of the candle holder 4 body portion I3 adjacent to the intermediatebase section I2.

As may readily be seen from Figure 3 of the drawings, the body portionI3 is generally frustoconical in configuration, having one fiat end face20 adapted to abut face I6 when the holder I0 is assembled as viewed inFigure 2. Alternatively the body portion I3 may be supported in uprightposition on its own lower surface 20. Body portion I3 is provided withan upper flared lip 2| extending radially outwardly of the body portionI3 and having a conical opening 22 centrally thereof communicating witha tapered recess 23 provided interiorly of body portion I3 and incommunication with the threaded aperture I9 hereinbefore described.

The tapered recess 23 is provided with a flat thread formed by lands 2extending radially inwardly of the recess and grooves 25 between thelands 24. As best shown in Figure 2, the threaded recess 23 is adaptedto receive one terminal end of a candle C. The candle C is of such sizeas to bear against lands 24, the candle being retained in recess 23 bythe lands 2-4 pressing into the candle, as at 2-6. Thus, the threads ofthe recess, constituting the female member of the threaded connection,form corresponding threads on the candle, constituting the male memberof the connection.

The exact taper of the recess 23 may be varied as desired, as may thepitch and the depth of the threads formed therein. However, I have foundthat for general use it is preferable to employ a recess 23 having anincluded taper angle of about 16 and a thread having a top face of about0.062 inch and a bottom face of about 0.104 inch with the depth of asingle thread being about 0.015 inch and a thread to length ratio ofabout 6 to 1 inch. By the use of such a taper and thread, it is possibleto employ a cavity of about inch dtpth which is capable of holdingcandles having a wide range of sizes.

As shown in Figure 4, the candle holder body portion l3 may be securedto the bottom base section II, with the elimination of the base sectionI2, through the use of stud I8 to vary the decorative effect of thecandle holder.

It will be noted from Figures 1, 3, 5 and 6 that the plane face 20 ofthe candle holder body portion I3 is provided with a pair of slots 26and 21 respectively extending parallel to the axis of rotation of bodymember I3. The functional purpose of slots 26 and 21 will be observed inFigures 5 and 6 of the drawings in which the candle holder body portionI3 is mounted upon a resilient band 28 formed of suitable material suchas a metal strip. The band 28, which can be originally either straight,circular .or arcuate, may be deformed into an arcuate or circularconfiguration by merely overlapping the free ends of the strips. Theslot 26 is of substantially twice the thickness of slot 2'! and isadapted to receive the overlapped ends of resilient band 28 so thatthese ends are held in flush relation by means of the slot 25 formed incandle holder body portion I3 positioned on the band.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, slot 27 is employed to position the bodyportion I3 upon a single thickness portion of the resilient band 28. InFigure 7 of the drawings, it may be seen that the slot 2'! is sodimensioned relative to the width of the band 28 that the band isreadily insertible in the slot when the-band is substantially straight.However, when the band is deformed to a circular or arcuateconfiguration, there is not sumcient space in the slot 21 to freelyaccommodate such deformation of the band, and, accordingly, frictionalengagement between the band 28 and the walls of slots 21 is caused whichsnugly anchors the candle holder body portion l3 to the band 28. Thesnug fit between slot 21 and band 28 actually produces a transversestressing with in the band 28 with a deformation of the band into tightgripping engagement with the sides of slot 21. It will also be evidentthat upon straightening the band 28 from its arcuate or curvedconfiguration as shown in Figure '7, the band will readily slide fromslot 21 allowing easy removal of the body portion. Slot 26 is alsodimensioned to cause transverse stressing of the overlapped end portionsof band 28 in the manner hereinbefore described.

In the modified form of the invention as shown in Figures 8 and 9 of thedrawings, a body portion 30 of substantially the same contour as thebody portion is herebefore described and having an axial threaded.recess 3| formed therein is provided, the axial recess 3| being similarto the recess 23 hereinbefore described. The body portion 38 carries aperipheral flange 32 surrounding the lower portions of the bod 30 for apurpose to be hereinafter described.

The plane bottom 33 of recess 3| is counter sunk as at 34 to snuglyreceive the head 35 of a screw 36 depending from the body portion 30. Apair of circular mounting plates 31 and 38 are mounted on screw 35', theupper plate 31 having an upper arcuate surface 39 abutting the centralportion of the lower extremity of the body portion at and having aninterior bore 4:) receiving the non threaded shank portion of screw 35immediately adjacent head 35. A second circular mounting plate 38.provided with an axial bore 4| receiving the threaded portion of theshank of screw 36, is mounted on screw 36 in spaced relation to plate31. The plates 31 and 39 are each provided with a central cylindricalboss 42 and 43, respectively, the bosses facing each other when theplates are mounted on screw 36, as shown in Figure 8, to provide spacedmounting shoulders 44.

A cylindrical resilient collar 5 is adapted to be mounted between theplates 31 and 38 upon shoulders 44 with the bosses 42 and 43 extendinginto opposed open ends of the interior bore of the collar 45.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the embodiment ofFigures 8 and 9 will be evident to those skilled in the art. Forexample, it may be seen that upon rotational movement of screw in theappropriate direction, the plates 3! and 38 will be moved toward. eachother with deformation of the resilient collar 45 as shown in Figure 9.The resilient collar 45 is preferably made of rubber or other materialcapable of frictionally engaging a metal, plastic, or glass surface.

As shown in Figure 9, the modification of Fi ure 8 may be preferablymounted within a candlereceiving recess 46 of a conventional candleholder 4! made of a suitable material, such as glass, with theconventional candle holder serving as a base. Prior to insertion of thedevice within the recessed portion 46, the plates 31 and 38 are movedtoward each other so that collar 45 is distorted. and so that its outerperiphery is substantially the same as the interior periphery of therecess 46. Following this adjustment of the device, the device isinserted within the recess 46 with the flange 32 bearing against theupper surface 48 of candle holder 41. Next, the

collar 44 is still further distorted upon movement of screw 36 relativeto the plates 31 and 38.

This relative movement is carried out in either of two ways. By'one'method, a screw driver may be inserted to engage the slot formed at thehead 35 of screw 36 and the screw is rotated to draw plates 43 and 33toward plate 31, distorting collar into gripping engagement with theinterior surface of recess 45. Alternatively, the body portion 30 may berotated-to cause rotation of screw 36 relative to plates 37 and 38.Inasmuch as the head of the screw 35 is in complete circumferentialsurface engagement throughout its entire length with the c'ounterbore 34of body portion 35, and the arcuate upper surface 39 of the plate 31 isin very slight contact with the body member 30, it is evident that thefriction between the screw head 35 and the body member 36 will begreater than the friction between the body member 30 and plate 31.Accordingly, rotation of the body member 30 will cause rotation of thescrew 35, thus causing relative movement between plates 31 and 38 andthe bulging of collar 45 into contact with the interior surfaces ofrecess 46. v

The advantages residing in the present invention will be appreciated tothose skilled in the art in the provision of a candle holder bodyadapted for attachment to supporting bases of various types. The basemay take the form of the em bodiments shown and described in connectionwith Figures 1 and 4, the band of Figures 5 and 6, and the conventionalcandle holder of Figures 8 and 9. In each case, the candle is firmly andthreadedly retained within the candle holder body to prevent relativeseparation thereof. It is not necessary that the candle portion insertedin the holder have a taper identical with the holder recess, nor is itnecessary that the candle have sides of a shape corresponding to that ofthe candle holder recess. This feature of the present invention isillustrated in Figures 2 and 9 of the drawings and will be evident tothose skilled in the art.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a candle holding adapter for insertion into a recess of asupporting base having a rim, a body portion having an axially extendingfrustoconical recess formed therein provided with flat threads forreceiving and supporting the lower end of a candle, said body alsohaving a flanged portion extending therefrom and adapted to havesupporting engagement with said rim of said supporting base, and meansextending from the lower end of said body for engagement with the wallof said recess of said supporting base and holding said flange inengagement with said rim including an expansible collar, a plateinterposed between said body and one end of said collar and anotherplate abutting the opposite end of said collar, and a member connectingsaid body with said last mentioned plate and moving said plate in adirection to expand said collar into clamping engagement with the wallsof said recess of said supporting base upon turning movement of saidadapter.

2. In a decorative candle holder including a supporting base having arecess formed therein and having a flange extending laterally from thetop thereof, a candle holder adapter for said candle holder comprising abody having a tapered interior recess formed therein for receiving oneterminal end of a candle, said recess having a shallow interior flatthread for threadedly engaging the candle end, to secure the sametherein and having a flange extending therefrom intermediate the endsthereof, and means for securing said body portion within said supportingbase recess including a resiliently deformable collar adapted to extendinto said base recess, two opposing plates on opposite sides of saidcollar, and a threaded member carried by said body portion and threadedwithin said plate remote from said body portion for deforming saidcollar into surface engagement with the walls of said base recess anddrawing said intermediate flange of said adapter into supportingengagement with said flange of said candle holder upon turning movementof said adapter.

.3. A candle holding adapter for insertion into a recess of a supportingbase comprising a generally cylindrical body portion defining an axiallyextending interior conical recess and provided with flat threads forreceiving one terminal end of a candle, said body also having a radiallyoutwardly extending peripheral flange for overlying said recess in saidsupporting base in contact with the upper portion of said supportingbase when said candle holder is inserted therein, and

means carried by said body and extending therebeyond for entry into saidbase recess to secure said candle holder to said supporting base, saidmeans including a resiliently deformable cylindrical collar underlyingsaid interior recess, a plate on the side of said collar opposite saidbody and having a boss extending within said collar, and screw threadmeans connected between said body and plate, for deforming said collarradially outwardly after insertion of the same into said base recess, toengage adjacent portions of said supporting base, thereby securing saidcandle holding adapter in position thereon.

CLARENCE R. CURTIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 273,103 Keibel Feb. 27, 18831,439,243 Hughes et al Dec. 19, 1922 2,406,777 Koretzky Sept. 3, 19462,480,333 McClory Aug. 30, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 391Italy of 1879 4,845 Switzerland Feb. 8, 1892 26,176 Great Britain 1902211,583 Germany July 7, 1909

